DON’T allow your dog to greet guests at the door with jumping, crowding the entry or barking and growling. This is fearful or protective behavior and can result in injuries and unhappy guests.

DO educate your guests on how best to greet — and treat — your dog throughout the night. And set your dog up for success by keeping her under your control. Keep treats near your front door and when guests arrive, place your dog away from the door in a down-stay. Give her the treat AFTER your guests enter. Give your guests some treats, too, instructing them to greet your dog with a command and treat reward. If your dog cannot stay in a sit- or down-stay, put her on a leash to greet guests or keep her confined to another room and take the greeting out of the picture all together.

DON’T allow your dog to roam the party all night unsupervised. This can be off-putting to guests who don’t understand how to interact with dogs and can increase your dog’s chances of stealing food from guests’ plates. This can also put your dog in dangerous situations with decorations, lights and toxic foods such as coffee, chocolate, onions, raisins, grapes and alcohol.

DO create a quiet retreat for your dog that is removed from the party while you entertain guests in your home. If you want the guests to meet your dog, create a period of supervised greeting and visiting and then put Fido to bed for the rest of the night.

DON’T treat your party as your dog’s exercise for the night.

DO exercise your dog thoroughly prior to the party starting. A tired dog is a calm dog and one who is much more willing to tuck herself in early for bed. By the way, exercising together will also help relieve your holiday stress!

DON’T automatically take your dog to other people’s holiday parties and don’t assume your dog is welcome at extended overnight stays with friends or family.

DO exercise your dog well before you leave for a party and leave her safe at home with soft music playing in their comfortable space. If staying overnight for a few days or more with friends or relatives, first phone ahead and ask them how they would feel about your dog accompanying you to their home. Be gracious and let them easily say no. Then, if can’t take your dog, check out a local overnight daycare or hire a qualified pet sitter to stay in your home.

DON’T feed your dog every little leftover scrap from parties and dinners and don’t let guests feed your pet. Many foods may toxic to your pet. Additionally, the extra food leads to extra pounds. Even a few extra pounds on a dog can contribute to severe joint strain and problems, digestion disorders, diabetes and more.

DO keep your dog on her regular, high-quality diet and not a diet of leftovers. If you decide to feed leftovers, consult the list of friendly foods from your local veterinarian and make the portion size complementary to — not in addition to — her regular food. And, in case of emergency or accidents outside of your control, familiarize yourself with the signs of poisoning and the keep the Pet Poison Helpline handy.

DON’T place any potentially dangerous items or decorations at "dog level" including ornaments, electrical cords, lights, trees, tree water, candles, holiday plants or gifts.

DO elevate your trees, plants, decorations and gifts and consider placing a barrier around them or using a repellent spray. Keep all that extra stuff out of the way of your curious pet. While you’re at it, check your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide and radon detectors to make sure they’re working and go over your exit plan in case of smoke or fire in your home.

Share on Facebook

LEASHES

Stunt Puppy™. If you don’t think canine gear can be both functional and fashionable, then you haven’t seen Stunt Puppy’s collars, leashes, and accessories. Stunt Puppy website (use coupon code DISH for free shipping through December 31st), Urbanimal, BoneAdventure, Corazon, and Marathon Sports.

Dugen Clip. This is the leash that lets you go anywhere. Take your dog out on the town on all your errands knowing that you can secure them safely to anything from a tree to a street pole if they can’t come inside with you. Easily adjust the size. Where to buy: Dugen Clip website and 45 Degrees, Urbanimal, KBO Doggie Duds.

Bark-n-Biscuit has the best designer collars and leashes for dogs of all sizes. FREE SHIPPING AVAILABLE. Matching sets or mix-n-match in great colors. Retail for $28 and up. Where to buy: Bark-n-Biscuit website.

TREATS

Hound Street™
Looking for a unique gift for a hard-to-shop-for hound? Quit sniffing around and enroll the fastidious Fido in the Hound Street Treat-of-the-Month Club. Aptly named by size, The Jack Russell (for petite pooches), The Boxer (for medium mutts), and The Labrador (for biggish beasts) packages were created to put an end to what owner Lynn Johnson calls “treat boredom” by delighting furry members with a different treat package each month for an entire year. Where to buy: Hound Street website (15% off when you spend $20 or more through December 18th), Pet Chef Express, Andover Animal Hospital, and Armstrong Ranch Kennels.

Sojos has not only the high quality treats that are corn and wheat free, but also the loveliest packaging that requires little to no wrapping. The Kung Fu Fido brand is a box of fortune cookie treats for dogs with a real fortune in each one. And, Good Dog Treats in the cutest little boxes with handles. (Indie loves Blueberry Cobbler and Chicken Pot Pie the best.) Where to buy: Linden Hills Coop, Fetch Delivers, BoneAdventure, Whole Foods, Chuck and Don’s in Calhoun Village.

FASHION

WAHSSIE™. Fortunately for furry fashionistas everywhere there is new canine courtier in town: Winnie Tan Musser, owner of WAHSSIE™ Knine Fashion. Named after a pet name for her toy poodle Wah Wah (Chinese for “doll’), WAHSSIE offers everything from basic tees and spaghetti-strapped tanks to fleece hoodies and puffy vests. The versatile designer’s most unique collection, however, is composed of traditional Asian-style clothing including silk coats, Japanese kimonos and Chinese Cheongsam and Qi Pao dresses.  Where to buy: WAHSSIE website and 4 Paws Boutique.

Also, don’t miss Lulu and Luigi in St. Louis Park where their to die for dog sweaters are made of luxurious cashmere, tween and Italian
wool.

MONOGRAMMING/PERSONALIZATION

PillowGram™. PillowGram™ is the brainchild of Nancy Sundeen, dog mom to three Bernese Mountain Dogs who has a soft spot in her heart for pets. PillowGram allows you to personal a travel-sized pillow with custom embroidery. You can also chose from hundreds of themed fabrics. Great for a pet who is recovering from surgery, away at a pet sitters or just plain likes to put her head on a pillow.
Where to buy: PillowGram website.

Also check out Momento Inc. in St. Paul for artist Robin Getsug Taple’s gorgeous handmade pillows that can be personalized with photos of you and our pet, and InBeaute Photography in St. Paul where Wendy Blomseth has created a new line of photo totes and purses that can give you a lovely and practical way to “carry” your pet with you wherever you go.

CREATURE CARE

Stacy Lewis/Dancing Porcupine™. Is your best friend (or someone else’s) feeling particularly out of balance these days? Has it been a “ruff” year? Consider the gift of Stacy Lewis, “creature teacher,” author of the heartwarming book JAVA: The True Story of a Shelter Dog who Rescued a Woman and gifted practitioner of Tellington TTouch™, Shamanic Healing, and Animal Communication.  Where to buy/book: Dancing Porcupine website.

Also check out Janet Roper, just back from the American Music Awards, Janet is also an animal communicator as well as a violinist who can sooth your pet with 30 minutes or more of her heartwarming music.

For Dog Lovers

For dog lovers, there are so many great gift ideas that can make any pet parent’s life easier. Some of those interests include: gardening, shopping, vacationing, crafts, reading, shopping, dining out, sports and outdoor activities, renting movies.

Here are a few ideas:

House Cleaning. Give your friends a family a break from the fur and get them a gift certificate for house cleaning. Check out Nook and Cranny who specialize in pet homes and can care for your pet.

Yard Clean Up – Pet Yard Pick-Up, Scoopy Poo, ScoopWorks

Outdoor Gear - Socks, face warmers, hand warmers and anything to keep dog lovers warm during the extra time spent walking outside with their dogs. Check out 45 Degrees and Jake’s on St. Croix Life is Good Store, both in Stillwater (and both carry dog items, too).

Dog-Friendly Stores – Gift certificates where dog lovers can shop with their dogs. Corazon, Java J’s, Settergren’s Hardware, Bayers Do It Best Hardware, Rick Rack, Twiggs and Wonderment.
Photo Albums and Frames

Dog-friendly lodging: Gunflint Lodge in Grand Marais, Kah-Nee-Tah gallery and cottages in Lustsen and The Outing Lodge at Pine Point just outside of Stillwater and Turtle Creek Ranch in Prairie Farm, WI just one hour East of Stillwater.

Do you have a Minnesota-made holiday gift suggestion?  Post it here.

A few weeks ago, I discovered a super cool dog-friendly apartment complex called Stone Arch Apartments. Located in the Minneapolis Riverfront District near St. Anthony Main and the lovely Stone Arch Bridge, Stone Arch Apartments just opened their very own off-leash play area. For just $10/year, residents and their dogs can enjoy a 52’ x 102’ fenced in area, complete with 5 boulder benches and a genuine fire hydrant. I hope that other dog-friendly rental properties will soon follow their example!

Do you live in a dog-friendly apartment complex that you would recommend? Post it here.

While visiting family in Florida this past weekend, I stayed at the super pet-friendly TradeWinds Island Grand on the island of St. Pete Beach. With 48 newly designated pet-friendly suites, the Island Grand doesn’t just allow dogs and cats, they cater to them. Accommodations include:

Pet Play Zone – Fenced in grassy off-leash area complete with fire hydrants and an automatic drinking fountain.

Sandy Beach Overlook – Sandy area adjacent to the beach where hounds and their humans can relax  together in a lounge chair or on a hammock.

Doggie Accessory Center – Outdoor locker stocked with toys, bowls, leashes, and towels for use during your stay.

R-R-R-Room Service Menu – Items include Mutt Meat Loaf (“A grilled 12 oz. Salisbury steak and an egg, garnished with a jerky stuffed pork hide
twist”) and a Doggie Pu Pu Pork Platter (“An all day favorite!”).

That’s it for now, but I promise to dish all about my stay at the dog-loving Island Grand in the January edition of The Dog eDish newsletter.

Do you know know of a great dog-friendly travel destination? Post it here.

If you’re looking for great hiking while Fall is
in full swing, check out my new favorite off leash dog park, Otter Lake Park near White Bear Lake Township located Northwest of St. Paul.

Well worth the drive, this place requires NO fees or special licenses. Just show up and enjoy the hilly landscape overlooking majestic marsh lands. All in all, it’s 10 acres of fun!

The park is maintained by Ramsey County so check out the Ramsey County Off Leash Parks home page and brochure with maps and information.

I wish you could have seen Indie bounding around and chasing her friend Sara, a chocolate lab who was enjoying the day with her dog parents and my friends, Rosemary and Mark Senjem, inventors of the Dugen Clip leash.

Get out there and enjoy!

Many big Halloween parties are coming up this weekend. Experts say it’ll can be safer and more fun for your well-socialized dogs to enjoy parties created for dogs, safer to leave dogs home when you attend human parties and best to find the dog a nice relaxing place to dwell if you’re hosting a Halloween Haunting in your home.

Additionally, there are many steps you can take to help keep your dog safe from the following hazards:

• Ingesting harmful food/candy, costumes, make up, decorations and other substances.
• Getting tangled up in trick-or-treater door greetings your dog may perceive as threats.
• Being put in danger from burning candles, lights and flammable or toxic substances.
• Feeling overwhelmed,  anxious and/or fearful from an overload of guests in your home.

Download Halloween_pet_safety.pdf

from animal communicator, Janet Roper and share it with your friends, neighbors and children to help keep all your pets in good spirits over the next several days.

If you’re heading toward Stillwater or Taylors Falls for a little fall color watching I wanted you to know about a couple of great stops there that love dogs!

Coffee Talk coffee house in Taylors Falls is a gorgeous Victorian right on the main drag of Hwy 96. Indie and I stopped there in August and she was promptly petted and delivered a bowl of “gourmet” water in a hand-made ceramic bowl. There’s a very cozy, large front porch great shelter and people watching. And, behind the shop, nestled into the hill, is an enchanting backyard wonderland perfect for resting your bones…or chewing on one.

And, if you head a little farther south from there into Stillwater, check out the Tasteful Table just up the hill from Main Street Treats, water, and the best outdoor patio and service with a smile west of the St. Croix!

What other magical places are you taking your dog to for Fall color watching? Post it here.